Crystal Palace’s Best Comebacks of All Time

Crystal Palace’s history is full of wild turnarounds, but a handful of comebacks stand out as era-defining for the club and its supporters. From Premier League chaos to FA Cup shocks, these matches capture the Eagles’ never‑say‑die spirit.​

Crystanbul: 3-3 vs Liverpool (2014)

On 5 May 2014, Palace trailed Liverpool 3-0 after 78 minutes at Selhurst Park before producing one of the Premier League’s most famous comebacks. Damien Delaney’s deflected strike and a Dwight Gayle brace in 10 frantic minutes turned certain defeat into a 3-3 draw, wrecking Liverpool’s title hopes and earning the nickname “Crystanbul” in homage to Liverpool’s own Istanbul miracle. Palace fans later voted this their greatest Premier League game of all time.​

FA Cup Revenge: 4-3 vs Liverpool (1990)

Having been thrashed 9-0 at Anfield earlier that season, Palace went into the 1990 FA Cup semi-final as clear underdogs against Liverpool at Villa Park. After Ian Rush put Liverpool ahead, Palace roared back to lead 2-1, then fell 3-2 behind, only to equalise through Andy Gray and win it 4-3 in extra time via Alan Pardew’s header. The result is widely regarded as one of the greatest FA Cup semi-finals ever and remains Palace’s most iconic cup comeback.​

Late Survival Push: 2-1 vs Stoke (2016)

In March 2016, amid a dreadful league run, Palace fell behind at home to Stoke in a crucial relegation battle. Substitute Dwight Gayle turned the game on its head with two late goals – first finishing a Yannick Bolasie break, then curling in a free-kick to seal a 2-1 win and halt the club’s alarming slide. The comeback, achieved during a calendar year in which Palace reportedly had the worst form across the top four divisions, was vital to preserving their Premier League status.​

Selhurst Shocks the Big Boys

Palace have also produced “mini-comebacks” against title-chasing giants. In March 2014, a struggling Palace side under Tony Pulis toppled Chelsea 1-0 at Selhurst Park after intense pressure and a John Terry own goal, sparking a five-game winning run that secured survival in their first season back in the Premier League. Under Alan Pardew in 2015, they overturned a deficit to beat Tottenham 2-1 at Selhurst – a comeback that helped launch a surge to a top‑half finish and reinforced the ground’s reputation as a graveyard for big clubs.​

Crystal Palace’s Greatest Comebacks Table